Functional foods/drinks containing antiallergic component

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to functional food/drink with antiallergic actions, which contain one or more selected from the group consisting of epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate and gallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate, epigallocatechin-4-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate and gallocatechin-4-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate, and strychnine.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a functional food/drink containing aneffective amount of a tea extract ingredient with an antiallergicaction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Men and women of today individually pay attention to health and activelytake healthy functional foods for the purpose of their health control,so as to find a way out of deadlocks of environmental pollution and inmedical systems. A great number of reports tell the efficacy of tea(green tea, fermented tea) in particular. Tea is a healthy functionalfood and drink most widely utilized traditionally. Tea has been known tohave for example antioxidant action, antimutagenicity, antibacterialaction, antiviral action, an action suppressing the increase of bloodglucose, and hypotensive action.

However, no products for the purpose of giving such definite actionshave been provided. Currently, tea is taken on a simple image that teadrinks or foods containing tea are healthy. Additionally, a broad senseof tea including for example Guava tea and Tencha except genuine tea(Camellia Sinensis) also exists, along with tea produced by specificprocessing methods such as Gavaron tea. Some of them have been approvedof their specific examined functions.

Meanwhile, a material from which an ingredient with an anti-allergicaction can be readily ingested with safety is demanded by a great numberof people afflicted with allergic diseases such as pollinosis, who aresaid to be a total of 13,000,000. The demand is very high from potentialsuch patients never visiting medical facilities, so the demand frommarket is also extremely high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In such circumstances, the invention has been achieved. The object is toprovide functional food and drinks safely ingestible with ananti-allergic action for patients afflicted with allergic diseases suchas pollinosis and common consumers.

With attention focused on water-soluble anti-allergic ingredientscontained in some green tea, namely EGCG3″Me, GCG3″Me, EGCG4″Me, GCG4″Meand strychnine so as to achieve the object described above, inaccordance with the invention, foods and drinks containing at least oneof these ingredients are obtained.

More specifically, the invention provides those described below.

(1) A functional food/drink comprising one or more selected from thegroup consisting of epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate (referredto as EGCG3″Me hereinafter) and gallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate(referred to as GCG3″Me hereinafter) as an optical isomer thereof,epigallocatechin-4-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate (referred to as EGCG4″Mehereinafter) and gallocatechin-4-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate (referred to asGCG4″Me hereinafter) as an optical isomer thereof, and strychnine.

(2) The functional food/drink according to (1), wherein EGCG3″Me,GCG3″Me, EGCG4″Me, GCG4″Me and strychnine are obtained as tea extractsand/or are contained in ground tea.

In other words, the functional foods and drinks in accordance with theinvention may satisfactorily be tea extracts themselves (namely,so-called common “tea”) or may contain tea extracts or may containground tea (including tea leaf, tea stem and all other things similar tothem) therein (for example, powdered green tea, purine of powdered greentea, and ice cream of powdered green tea).

(3) The functional food/drink according to (2), wherein the tea is ofAssam hybrid and/or Chinese species.

As described below, the Assam hybrid includes for example “Benifuki”,“Benihomare”, and “Benifuji”. The Chinese species includes for example“Selshin dai-pan”, “Selshin oolong”, and “Oba oolong”.

(4) The functional food/drink according to (3), wherein the Assam hybridis one or more selected from the group consisting of “Benifuki”,“Benihomare”, and “Benifuji” and the Chinese species is one or moreselected from the group consisting of “Seishin dai-pan”, “Seishinoolong”, and “Oba oolong”.

(5) The functional food/drink according to any one of (1) to (4),wherein one or more ingredients of EGCG3″Me, GCG3″Me, EGCG4″Me, andGCG4″Me are contained at 0.01 mg to 1,000 mg per one liter to dailyintake of 0.3 mg to 3,000 mg.

Herein, the daily intake can be calculated by integrating theconcentration and the volume. More specifically, the daily intake can beadjusted by adjusting the concentration and container volume. For thedaily intake of 0.3 mg, for example, such drink at a concentration of 1mg/one liter is placed in a 300-ml container.

(6) The functional food/drink according to any one of (1) to (4),wherein one or more ingredients of EGCG3″Me, GCG3″Me, EGCG4″Me, andGCG4″Me are contained at 1 mg to 500 mg per one liter to daily intake of3 mg to 300 mg.

(7) The functional food/drink according to any one of (1) to (6),wherein strychnine is contained at 0.01 mg to 1,000 mg per one liter todaily intake of 0.3 mg to 3,000 mg.

(8) The functional food/drink according to any one of (1) to (6),wherein strychnine is contained at 1 mg to 500 mg per one liter to dailyintake of 3 mg to 300 mg.

(9) The functional food/drink according to any one of (1) to (8),further comprising a masking agent to mask bitterness.

(10) A tea bag sealed tea comprising one or more selected from the groupconsisting of EGCG3″Me, GCG3″Me, EGCG4″Me, GCG4″Me and strychninetherein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows bar graphs of contents of ingredients vs. extractiontemperature.

FIG. 2 shows bar graphs of tannin content vs. extraction temperature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

One or more ingredients of EGCG3″Me, GCG3″Me, EGCG4″Me, and GCG4″Me(these substances are collectively referred to as “methylcatechin”hereinafter) and strychnine can be extracted as water-solubleingredients from tea, particularly the Assam hybrid mainly for blacktea, including for example “Benifuki”, “Benihomare, and “Benifuji” andthe Chinese species including for example “Seishin dai-pan”, “Selshinoolong”, and “Oba oolong”.

The extracted amount thereof has a correlation with the temperature ofwater for use in the extraction. As the water temperature is higher inthe order of 50° C., 70° C. and 90° C., the extracted amount is larger(FIG. 1). In FIG. 1, EGCG3″Me is methylcatechin. In other words, thecontents of such ingredients can be adjusted by controlling thetemperature for use in the extraction. The contents can be assayed byHPLC.

Then, the solvent includes for example but is not limited to water andsolvents usable in foods such as alcohol at high extraction efficiencythereof. Additionally, the performance of strychnine followsmethylcatechin.

The extraction temperature may be appropriate but is preferably a hightemperature within a range under consideration of flavor balance withumami and the like extractable at low temperature, because the activeingredients are extracted at high temperature.

Extract solutions containing the active ingredients can generally bepowdered by routine spray drying, freeze-drying and the like.Methylcatechin was recovered at 80% or more by drying with spray dryer,where the content was 2 to 3%. The performance of strychnine followsmethylcatechin.

The tannin content therein is higher than those in existing green teadrinks. If necessary, however, juices of citrus species such as grapefruit, bitterness-masking peptides and the like may be used asingredients for masking bitterness.

Concerning the anti-allergic actions of methylcatechin and strychnine,herein, it is suggested that strychnine suppresses IgE generation at anearly reaction stage, while methylcatechin inhibits the activation ofmast cell.

So as to get the anti-allergic action in a clinical sense, the effectiveamount of methylcatechin is 0.01 mg to 1,000 mg per one liter.Preferably, the effective amount is 1 mg to 50 mg per one liter.Preferably, adults may take 200 ml of the resulting drink per oneintake, three times or more daily.

Because methylcatechin is a water-soluble ingredient, an excess ofmethylcatechin is immediately excreted outside even when a large amountthereof is ingested.

The active amount of strychnine is 0.01 mg to 1,000 mg. Preferably, theactive amount is 1 mg to 50 mg. Strychnine is also a water-solubleingredient. Accordingly, an excess of strychnine is immediately excretedoutside.

EXAMPLE 1

“Benifuki” primary tea (picked on May 2; opening at 34%; one-hour dryingin the sun for shrinking; provided by Yasai Cha-gyo Kenkyusho(Vegetable-Tea Industry Research Institute) of 30 g as a raw materialand pure water of a 30-fold volume were used for extraction at threelevels of temperature (50, 70, 90° C.). The resulting extract solutionswere adjusted with pure water to a volume of one liter. These teaextract solutions were subjected to tests.

Tests were done by carrying out the fundamental analysis ofmethylcatechin contained in the tea extract solutions and evaluating theresults. Caffeine and catechins were analyzed by HPLC; and tanninanalysis was done by iron tartrate method. Catechin standards werepurchased from Funakoshi Co., Ltd. and EGCG3″Me was purchased fromNakahara Science Co., Ltd.

The intended EGCG3″Me was readily separated and assayed by generalmethods. Additionally, the content thereof depended on the extractiontemperature. As the extraction temperature was higher, the extractedamount increased at a higher concentration (FIG. 1). This was alsoobserved about other catechins.

After getting the approval of the Institutional Review Board of theMedical Department, a clinical test was carried out from the clinicalstandpoint by the Internal Medicine Department of allergy rheumatism,the Affiliated Hospital of Tokyo University. The intake of EGCG3″Me wasestimated to be 10 to 45 mg daily.

The results of the test indicate that 15 mg methylcatechin could beingested by drinking about 230 ml of an extract of 10 g of tea leavesper one liter at 90° C., about 290 ml of an extract of 10 g of tealeaves per liter at 70° C. and about 450 ml of an extract of 10 g of tealeaves per liter at 50° C.

EXAMPLE 2

Using a powder of an extract of “Benifuki”, a hard candy was prepared.Methylcatechin was contained at 2.7% in the powder of the extract, soone hard candy was designed to contain 3 mg of methylcatechin.Consequently, methylcatechin was recovered at a yield of 104%, withoutany methylcatechin modification-during the process of preparing the hardcandy. Strychnine was also stable. Additionally, the hard candy wasdelicious and ingestible every day with almost no bitterness.

EXAMPLE 3

One or two packs (daily) of a teabag containing 2 g of “Benifuki” weregiven to 46 allergic patients. Three months later, the improvement ofallergic symptoms such as cough, nasal congestion and itching wasobserved in 26 cases (78%). At a test 6 months later, apparent decreaseof IgE-RIST was observed in 5 cases (23%) and apparent decrease ofeosinophil counts was confirmed in 9 cases (43%). Accordingly, an effecton the improvement was observed. Additionally, no adverse effects wereobserved.

EXAMPLE 4

10 g each of “Benifuki”, “Benifuji” and “Benihomare” as raw materialsand pure water of a 30-fold volume were used for extraction at 90° C.The resulting extract solutions were adjusted with pure water to avolume of 3 L, to which adjusters of water quality such as sodiumbicarbonate and vitamin C were added for mixing them together. Further,the mixtures were divided into two portions. “Benifuki” ground to aboutmean particle size of 8 μm was mixed into one of the portions underagitation. Each of the mixture solutions was sterilized and sealed innitrogen in a sealed container.

The taste of the resulting two types of product solutions was evaluatedby 10 taste panelists. Seven among the 10 panelists liked the productswith addition of “Benifuki” and highly evaluated the products as genuinetea.

Because the extracted amounts of catechin and strychnine vary dependingon the various conditions such as extraction solvent and extractiontemperature as described above and additionally because tea itselfcontains variable amounts of catechin and strychnine, such extractsolutions at higher concentrations may satisfactorily be diluted to aconcentration suitable for drinking, with no specific problem.

As described above, it was confirmed that tea containing methylcatechinand strychnine with anti-allergic actions, particularly extracts of“Benifuki”, “Benihomare” and “Benifuji”, when ingested, could exert theanti-allergic actions in bodies.

As described above, the foods are effective for primary prophylaxis ofallergy in general consumers when ingested regularly and for secondaryprophylaxis in patients afflicted with allergic diseases. Additionally,it is considered that such foods can reduce the amounts ofpharmaceutical agents such as steroid under appropriate instructions ofmedical doctors, leading to the saving of increasing medical expenses.

1. A functional food/drink comprising one or more selected from thegroup consisting of eplgallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate (EGCG3″Me)and gallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate (GCG3″Me) as an optical isomerthereof, epigallocatechin-4-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate (EGCG4″Me) andgallocatechin-4-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate (GCG4″Me) as an optical isomerthereof, and strychnine.
 2. The functional food/drink according to claim1, wherein EGCG3″Me, GCG3″Me, EGCG4″Me, GCG4″Me and strychnine areobtained as tea extracts and/or are contained in ground tea.
 3. Thefunctional food/drink according to claim 2, wherein the tea is of Assamhybrid and/or Chinese species.
 4. The functional food/drink according toclaim 3, wherein the Assam hybrid is one or more selected from the groupconsisting of “Benifuki”, “Benihomare”, and “Benifuji” and Chinesespecies is one or more selected from the group consisting of “Seishindai-pan”, “Selshin oolong”, and “Oba oolong”.
 5. The functionalfood/drink according to claim 1, wherein one or more ingredients ofEGCG3″Me, GCG3″Me, EGCG4″Me, and GCG4″Me are contained at 0.01 mg to1,000 mg per one liter to daily intake of 0.3 mg to 3,000 mg.
 6. Thefunctional food/drink according to claim 1, wherein one or moreingredients EGCG3″Me, GCG3″Me, EGCG4″Me, and GCG4″Me are contained at 1mg to 1,000 mg per one liter to daily intake 3 mg to 300 mg.
 7. Thefunctional food/drink according to claim 1, wherein strychnine iscontained at 0.01 mg to 1,000 mg per one liter to daily intake of 0.3 mgto 3,000 mg.
 8. The functional food/drink according to claim 1, whereinstrychnine is contained at 1 mg to 500 mg per one liter to daily intakeof 3 mg to 300 mg.
 9. The functional food/drink according to claim 1,further comprising a masking agent to mask bitterness.
 10. A tea bagsealed tea comprising one or more selected from the group consisting ofEGCG3″Me, GCG3″Me, EGCG4″Me, and GCG4″Me and strychnine therein.